Tool for cutting plywood neatly?

DownWest said:
Jig saw with a scroll blade, goes round the corners neatly. Bit of practice on off cuts of ply.
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Exactly. And don't force it. Cut smoothly and slowly. with a bit of practice you can cut plywood without any splintered bits breaking out. Use a sharp new saw bit!

You definitely don't need a multi tool to make the first cut. A series of small holes will allow the blade in to start. Again, don't force the drill and use tape or a block of wood on the underside to stop the splinters. You only need the tape for the drilling as a very sharp new scrolling bit in the jigsaw will cut the lid out perfectly adequately. You need a hole saw for the finger hole in the middle though, as jig says aren't very good for cutting small holes neatly.

You then need a bigger bit of ply to cut the surround lip out of to glue and screw up underneath to drop the infill back onto. (If you follow what I mean,)
 
john_morris_uk said:
Exactly. And don't force it. Cut smoothly and slowly. with a bit of practice you can cut plywood without any splintered bits breaking out. Use a sharp new saw bit!

You definitely don't need a multi tool to make the first cut. A series of small holes will allow the blade in to start. Again, don't force the drill and use tape or a block of wood on the underside to stop the splinters....
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Always tempting to use a blade for too long. Not expensive, fit a new one every time for good work. Save the older ones for rough cutting if you must!

These are the gadgets I use if I'm worried about splintering. Clicks into the base plate of the jigsaw.
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penberth3 said:
No, you don't need the multitool. One drilled hole, smallest possible to start the jigsaw blade, maybe 6mm
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Ok even a series of 4mm holes will get a blade in, that's the way I used to do it until I got a multitool and found it was a better way of doing it.
A lot depends on how the lid and cutout is going to be edged, as the OP wants to use the cutout as the lid.
 
Thanks everyone. Even more informative than I'd expected. I'm reasonably "handy" with every power tool I've had occasion to use, but I'm certainly a beginner on this particular task!

Sounds like a jigsaw and some practice before I start, with blades as you guys suggested. I also noticed Aldi have a multi-purpose tool for £19.99 so I will probably buy that as well for the shelf.
 
LadyInBed said:
If that's the case, then you need two tools. A multitool to make the initial plunge cut into the face surface then as B-O-B says, a downward cutting jigsaw. A fine tooth blade gives a smoother cut, I make my own from a metal hacksaw blade.
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I agree and would use a template as a guide to stop the jigsaw from wandering. Guided router bits with a template will make the cleanest cut but, if the offcut is to be used as a door, the gap will be far too big even if edging tape/veneer is used on the cut edges.
 
Just a thought, but if the OP has no tools and just the one job, then a 'pad saw' or 'key hole' saw. Basicly a handle with a thin tapered blade. Drill a few small holes at 2mm to get started and gently cut it out. Not onerous and less chance of screwing it up with a power tool at speed.
Likely this is under a cushin, so the odd mild mistake is not too important.

It is interesting that nearly everybody went straight to their favourite routers and power tools while the job is one that does not justify it. (guilty here too, but I have a bunch of power tools)
 
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Jig saw, cheap as chips. For this initial entry hole either a multi tool or a series of 2mm holes very close together and them opened out into a 1 cm slot. Easy job.
 
You can also buy what might be termed modelling jigsaw which take smaller blades but are light - I bought one from Lidl to cut out a seat base for a chair and found it far easier to use than a standard size one you rip through planks etc with. Very cheap but stock up on a supply of blades.
 
Use a jigsaw with very fine blades or down cut blades which will give a clean cut on the top surface. Use new blades and change them as they become blunt. Do not force the jigsaw through the wood and you will achieve good straight lines. Ignore the talk about starting the cut without drilling pilot holes as you will only ruin the surface of the work.
 
scottie said:
How to catch monkey 101 ?
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What is that meant to mean?

"but there's one corner that's crying out for an additional access lid cutting into the plywood ...."
What has he got stored there? We haven't got much to go on.

My preference would be a jigsaw if it was possible to use one in the situation. Maybe two 120 mm holes and a jigsaw to join the two holes (I've done that before)
 
coopec said:
What is that meant to mean?

"but there's one corner that's crying out for an additional access lid cutting into the plywood ...."
What has he got stored there? We haven't got much to go on.

My preference would be a jigsaw if it was possible to use one in the situation. Maybe two 120 mm holes and a jigsaw to join the two holes (I've done that before)
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If you make the hole just big enough to put a empty hand through you can not remove it holding anything

To catch monkey put nuts in jar with opening just large for empty hand
 
scottie said:
If you make the hole just big enough to put a empty hand through you can not remove it holding anything

To catch monkey put nuts in jar with opening just large for empty hand
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Brings back a sad memory of, as a kid I was feeding monkeys at the zoo. When the packet was empty I blew it up and handed it to one of the monkeys. The poor little chap thought he'd won the jackpot as he raced off with about ten of his mates in pursuit. When he opened up the empty packet he turned and cursed me (I'm sure he used the "F" word.) :cry:
 
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